Rag & Bone Designers talk Fashion Stress

The British designers conquered New York with their fashion creations despite having no formal training between them. In 2010 they received recognition for their work when they won a prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award.

“People may think that it’s happened pretty quickly,” Neville says. “But we have been doing this for quite a long time and a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the early years.”

The lack of formal training hasn’t hindered the duo’s remarkable impact on the American design world. The pair have managed to rise above comments regarding their background.

“I don’t think we have a complex about being self-taught,” says Neville at the brand’s New York headquarters. “I think it’s helped us in the long run. It’s given us a point of view and I don’t think we feel any less worthy than anybody that’s been trained.”

The close friends are now planning their return to home shores to conquer British fashion turf. They are opening a new store in the heart of London’s exclusive boutiques. The pair describe their latest project as one that is particularly close to their hearts.

“We grew up going to pubs around there and it’s amazing to think that we’re now going to be opening a store on Sloane Street,” Neville said in an interview with UK newspaper The Independent, “It’s a big deal.”

“We wanted to focus on building the best, coolest store that we could,” agrees Wainwright.

As well as the opening of the store, which has been a labour of love, the duo are showing at London Fashion Week in September.

“We’ve tried to position ourselves to cope with what we think is coming in the future,” Neville says. “Growing isn’t necessarily our concern at the moment; we just want to ensure that we grow in the right way.”